Wrong Kind of Paradise

by Suzie Grant

  with seawater. She would love to run her fingers through it if she didn’t think he’d jump right out of his

  skin. As it was, Blac would fight his attraction for her to the very end, of that she was certain.

  She shook her head. “Oh, I don’t think so, Captain Barclay. I nearly melt every time your eyes touch

  me.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth. He had a beautiful mouth. Would he kiss her now? She certainly

  hoped so.

  He started to shake his head but stopped. “You will never make a proper, docile wife like this.”

  “But you don’t want a docile wife.” She grinned and placed a warm palm on his naked chest. The

  strength under her palm fascinated her. He hissed as if she’d burned him and stepped away from her.

  “Bloody hell!”

  Perhaps she shouldn’t enjoy this so much but, it was becoming more and more difficult not to smile.

  “I don’t want a wife, docile or otherwise,” he said, running a hand through his wet hair.

  “No.”A sultry chuckle escaped her as she circled him, and their gazes locked. “You need a man’s

  woman. One unafraid of your dark looks and temper. One who will roll about the bed sheets unafraid of

  her own sexuality and yours. You could never be satisfied with anything less.”

  Unspoken words hung in the air between them. Blac Barclay needed a woman like her. She didn’t

  need to voice them though. According to his frown, he knew exactly what she implied.

  Cannon fire exploded and split the late afternoon air, and a flock of birds burst into the sky. Angel

  froze, eyes wide. Her palm on the trunk of the banana tree slid to fall by her side.

  Her gaze met Blac’s before he scanned the horizon. She couldn’t move. “Don’t do anything

  impulsive,” he warned.

  Again, the thundering sound reverberated beneath them and her feet took flight. She darted down the

  narrow, tree-lined path, Blac’s shout following in her wake.

  Her heart faltered and pounded against her ribs.

  Papa!

  Horrible images assaulted her and every terrifying scenario she could imagine flickered through her

  mind. She couldn’t lose her papa too. After the death of her mother when Angel was four, her father had

  become her whole world. He’d doted on his only child and had given her everything. In fact, she could

  only remember being punished for her antics once when she’d managed to stow away on Blac’s vessel.

  They’d been two days out to sea before Blac had found her hidden amongst the ammunition in the hull.

  Her father had been furious at her. She’d never seen his temper before that day and she never

  wished to see it again — at least when it was directed at her.

  Fear pumped blood through her veins and she increased her pace, soaring over the jagged terrain

  like a sea gull. She leapt over a fallen limb and her shirt snagged and tore, captured by the offending

  brush. The wind tore through her hair and, despite the cooling breeze, her palms moistened.

  Her greatest fear reared its ugly head. She’d always known the risks of being a pirate’s daughter but

  she had refused to imagine the consequences. And now, each one of them flashed before her eyes like a

  horrible nightmare she could not awaken from.

  Smoke billowed in the sky above the trees, and tears scalded her cheeks. Blac yelled from behind

  her. She ignored him and streaked through the trees, faster now. Her gaze rose to the smoke and she

  tripped, landing with a hard flop to her knees. Pain shot through her limbs, and she grimaced.

  She clambered to her feet and took off again. Breaking through the thick foliage of the narrow path,

  she stopped. Smoke came from the harbor. Running between the buildings, she raced down the street with

  chaos erupting all around her.

  Seamen dashed in and out of buildings, some carrying weapons. Loud screeches and screams

  echoed throughout the village as the women sought shelter.

  Alarmed, Angel searched for a familiar face. Where was her father?

  Edging closer to the wall, she flattened her hot palms on the cool brick to ease their shaking.

  Her gaze found the familiar ship in the harbor. Flames licked up the tall masts and flickered against

  the indigo backdrop of the afternoon sky. The acrid scent of smoke filled the air and replaced the tang of

  the sea. Jostled aside by two men, she paused by the sight in the cove.

  The beautiful sloop rode tall in the water, and the whitecaps brushed against her rounded hull. The

  inferno sent waves of heat into the air and surrounded the ship with a cloak of red.

  She spotted the familiar carved mahogany figurehead of the mermaid. Angel’s hands flew to her

  mouth in horror. Her heart sank. Someone knocked into her and she stumbled, but couldn’t remove her

  eyes from the ship anchored in the cove.

  A loud crack followed an eerie screech as the mizzenmast toppled over and hung on the side of the

  ship before finally sliding into the waiting arms of the ocean.

  Her father’s ship. The Scavenger.

  Two

  The Navy!

  The HMS Serenity, HMS Dread, and last but not least, the HMS Newport lurked just outside of the

  harbor. Cannon fire exploded, and seconds later the tavern behind Angel splintered into pieces. She

  ducked. Shards of wood soared into the air then fluttered to the ground.

  Horrified, she smothered a gasp with her hands. The Scavenger creaked as the ruthless grasp of the

  ocean enveloped it. Red-coated soldiers landed on the beach below town and spread out, firing at anyone

  who resisted arrest. Several of her father’s men took up arms, and the clang of swords ensued while the

  women grabbed their children and disappeared into the trees.

  A hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her back. “Don’t make a sound,” Blac whispered

  harshly against her ear.

  He rounded the corner behind the building and lifted her onto his shoulder. Stunned, Angel’s gaze

  widened and she gasped, kicking in earnest.

  “No! I need to find Papa!” Angel pounded his back with her fists. “Blac, put me down.”

  He loped down the path back toward the cove at a quick pace and leapt over a fallen tree. His

  shoulder jammed into her stomach and made her gasp. Disgruntled, she mumbled, “Do you want my

  breakfast back?”

  “Just steer clear of the boots, please.”

  Angel rolled her eyes. “You can’t just leave Papa back there to fight alone, Blac.”

  “I’m not. But first, I’m going to make sure you’re safe. It’s exactly what Logan would want.”

  Angel sighed. She couldn’t argue with that reasoning. But she wasn’t a simpering damsel in distress

  either. She was perfectly capable of helping to find her father.

  Her hair caught in the brush and yanked at her scalp. Hanging upside down, she peered through the

  tangled strands, but dizziness assailed her at the whir of scenery.

  “Put me down, Blac. I’m going to be sick.”

  His only response was a chuckle.

  He deposited her by the beach where his crew worked and ordered his men to restrain her. Angel

  scrambled up from the sand, brushing the grit from her rear. She flipped the tangled mass over her

  shoulder and glared at him. But he didn’t spare her a glance.

  Blac relayed the events taking place on the other side of the island to his first mate. “Mr. Santiago, I

  want her safe. If anything happens to her you’ll answer to me.”

  The dark-skinned Spaniard with the scarred face nodded. Rigo grasped he
r arm without being too

  forceful and led her away from his captain. He sat Angel down near a copse of trees and settled into a

  sprawl. Angel blew a frustrated breath out and crossed her arms over her knees. Her bare toes sank into

  the warm sand as she sighed. Why must Blac be so damned stubborn?

  “Find Logan’s men,” Blac directed. “As many as you can and get this goddamned rat trap in the

  water. I want to set sail sometime before we get arrested!”

  Men burst into activity all at once. The shade of the trees kept the blaring sun off her but the heat

  continued to baste her under the canopy of foliage. A tiny rivulet of sweat rolled down the side of her face

  to drip off her chin onto her shoulder. She glanced at Rigo. He ignored her and proceeded to carve a

  piece of wood.

  Maybe she could just slip away when he wasn’t paying attention.

  “Don’t even think about it, Angel. I am quicker than you, cara mia, and I will catch you before you

  get ten feet.”

  Angel frowned. Blasted Spaniard, how can he read my thoughts?

  Several hours later, twelve men from her father’s crew had been found. Some of them had been

  injured and were brought in on makeshift stretchers. Among them, her father’s first mate, Bruno, limped

  across white sands as blood dribbled down his leg. They filed through the palms one-by-one and joined

  Blac’s men on the shore.

  But none of them were her father.

  Her chest grew heavy and she squeezed her eyes closed. Please, let Papa be safe.

  The Serpent was finally set in the water and loaded with supplies. Smoke billowed above the

  treetops to the north of them; its acrid scent hung in the air as a reminder. She couldn’t stand being here

  idle while her father was possibly fighting for his life. She should be right there beside him.

  Angel wiped a bead of perspiration from her brow, her eyes on Blac. One of his men ran toward

  him from the direction of the village. His gestures as he spoke were urgent. Seconds later, Blac took off

  through the meandering path in the woods.

  Had the crewman found her father? Had he been captured?

  Her heart skipped a beat. Her gaze swung to Rigo, asleep now beside her. She held her breath and

  moved. The Spaniard gave no indication of waking and she stood, glancing around. Everyone appeared

  too busy loading the ship to notice her, so she faded into the jungle foliage.

  Her heart pounded inside her chest, anticipating the sound of an alarm. When no such warning came,

  Angel whirled and headed back to the village.

  Palms moist, breath broken and muted, Angel broke through the trees on the path and headed

  northeast for the village. No one knew this island like she did. It’d been her home since she was born. She

  knew every square inch, every path, every nook and cranny.

  Darting across the path, she cut through the bamboo and ferns. She’d make it to the village at about

  the same time as Blac did. Several moments later, she knelt and parted the limbs of a Hibiscus bush.

  Silence reigned — an eerie, foreboding silence.

  She slipped her way into a back alley, headed for the docks. Unease slid along the back of her spine

  and every hair rose on end. Dread kept her feet moving and her mind frozen. Angel peered around the

  corner of the last building. Fear made her hesitate. A sixth sense told her she wouldn’t like what she saw.

  Papa, I hope you’re safe.

  She took a deep breath and forced herself look. With her back to the wall, she slid down the side

  until she reached the front of the building. Her eyes widened.

  Most of the men on the isle had been taken prisoner, lined up along the beach, waiting to be loaded

  onto the ships. She searched each face, every feature, looking for her father. Where was he? Had he been

  captured too, or had Blac already found him?

  Her gaze swung from the unfolding scene before her to the direction she’d just come from. Should

  she return to the beach just in case?

  Her heart beat faster, but the heavy thumping seemed almost in slow motion. She inched closer to

  the edge, hoping to see something. Anything.

  She must have made some noise for one of the soldiers turned to look in her exact direction. She

  jerked back. Her chest heaved. Motionless, she jammed her eyes closed. Just breathe. No one saw me.

  No one saw me.

  Minutes passed and no alarm sounded. Flattening her palms against the cold wood of the building to

  cool them, panic welled inside her.

  Just one more look and then I’ll go back. She nodded to herself. Blac would never even know

  she’d left. Surely, he’d found her father by now and they would both be safe on the other side of the

  island. But just in case… She needed one more look.

  Angel sighed. Everything will be all right. I’m just being silly. Still, she peered around the corner

  once more.

  Her heart plummeted. Her mind screamed.

  Battered and beaten, her father stood in a single-file line before several soldiers. Somehow she’d

  missed him in her first search but there he was…Chains shackled his wrists and ankles, while blood

  dripped from his wounds. She wanted to run to him. She must have screamed in reality rather than in her

  mind, for several people turned to gape at her. Including her father.

  His eyes widened. “Run! Angel, run now! Find Blac!”

  She shook her head. Three soldiers sprinted toward her. She wanted to stay to fight, but her feet

  only moved back.

  Her heart leapt and she whipped around to flee. Stumbling, both hands reached out to right her, and

  she dashed back the way she’d come. She weaved her tracks hoping to confuse any would-be trackers.

  Her lungs burned inside her chest and she clutched at her stomach as its contents roiled within.

  Oh, please don’t get sick now.

  Angel glanced quickly over one shoulder to see if she could glimpse the soldiers and smacked right

  into something hard. Arms reached around her, clasped her, and pulled her behind the tree.

  Blac. She didn’t need to see him; she could smell him. She trembled in his arms and his large hand

  cradled her head. He pulled her close until they stood chest to chest.

  “Always into something.” His tone soothed her fears.

  She relaxed almost immediately. Blac had always saved her from one instance or another. This time

  would be no different. It was why she loved him. It was why she knew he loved her as well.

  “Shhh,” he whispered.

  Forcing herself to calm her ragged breaths, she nodded. He held her close and an odd sensation

  cascaded through her body. A trickle of awareness that seemed to radiate from her very center made her

  pulse leap in response to his touch.

  Blac let go and moved her behind him. Bereft of his warmth, she shivered. He indicated silence

  with a finger to his lips and for her to stay put. She nodded, too afraid to move.

  He crouched low and moved away. Angel pressed as much of her body against the tree as she could

  and tried to peer around it. But apprehension kept her from moving any further.

  A limb snapped. The soldiers closed in. She leaned her forehead against the tree as the pressure of

  its bark imprinted itself into her soft skin.

  Please, just make them go away.

  She closed her eyes. Silence made its eerie appearance in the woods and cold chill’s formed across

  her flesh. Anxiety tightened her shoulders. A muffled thump came out of now
here before silence reigned

  again.

  What was that?

  Her eyes shot open and she waited.

  Nothing else moved. Where was Blac? Why hadn’t he stayed here with her? What if he’d been

  captured, too? What would she do?

  Angel jammed her eyelids shut. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye and slid down her

  cheek, streaking its way to her jaw.

  Seconds passed and she could no longer just stand here doing nothing. She took a deep breath and

  dared a look. Blac! Where did he go?

  The jungle didn’t move. It seemed even Mother Nature held her breath. Her eyes darted from left to

  right searching the surrounding area. A green monkey suddenly fell into her vision from the limb above

  her. She gasped and fell backward on her haunches. She looked up. The monkey hung from its tail upside

  down and tilted its head sideways at her. She sighed and got to her knees again. The little monkey swung

  its attention to the east and then scampered back up the tree.

  She clambered back to her feet and peered around the tree again. Breathing rapidly, the wind

  entered her lungs noisily. Don’t be afraid and soften your breath!

  She could almost hear Blac’s instructions. You can do this, Angel.

  She took a deep, calming breath and a single step away from the tree. Her head swung from one

  direction to another, searching for some clue to Blac’s whereabouts. Where had he gone? Why had he left

  her here alone?

  Had something happened? Why didn’t he make his presence known so she wouldn’t worry so?

  Maybe he’d fallen and was bleeding to death. She searched the ground for any signs of tracks.

  Desperate now, she dropped to her hands and knees and whispered, “Blac!” Please answer me.

  She crawled across the sand, its gritty warmth soaking between her fingers. “Blac! Where are you?”

  Christ’s bones, why didn’t he answer?

  A sand crab tunneled out of the sand, and she jumped to the side. She gave the crab a wide berth

  and kept moving. “Blac! If you’ve left me here alone, I swear I’ll kill you myself.”

  Two hands reached around her waist and lifted her to her feet, just as a soft chuckle sounded in her

  ear. “Is that right?

  A huge breath of relief exploded from her lungs as she broke away from him. “I thought you left.”